Nanocatalysts: Effect of Active-phase and Promoter on Catalytic Properties and Performance in the Hydrodesulfurization Reaction

The influence of various amounts of phosphorus addition on performance of NiMoP/Al2O3 and CoMoP/Al2O3 nanocatalysts was examined in hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. The nanocatalysts were synthesized via sonochemical technique. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FESEM, BET, and FTIR analysis. The catalytic activity in hydrodesulfurization reaction was investigated in a batch stirred slurry reactor at 160 degrees C and atmospheric pressure. The characterizations confirmed highly dispersion of active phase and formation of amorphous AlPO4 species on the support surface. The results obtained from thiophene hydrodesulfurization showed the nanocatalysts contained 1wt% of phosphorus had the highest activity. The CoMoP/Al2O3 and NiMoP/Al2O3 nanocatalysts with optimum phosphorus loading nearly gave 100% conversion of thiophene, so that the sulfur compound concentration in final solution was less than 50ppm.